View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Part II of the book, McCall reflects on why many return to jail withing first ___ years of release.

2. What is the name of McCall's brother that locates McCall's biological father after he has been absent from their lives for so long?

3. Which one of McCall's kids come to live with him in Chapter 43?

4. Whose advice did McCall take when going to his boss to reveal his prison record, as noted at the end of Chapter 39?

5. After arriving home from St. Brides, McCall makes arrangements to see whom but feels awkward around this person?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does McCall feel he is bringing another child into a world of pain and strife (Chapter 32)?

2. How does Debbie's mom respond to the African name chosen for their first son and why does McCall insist on the African name?

3. Later, in Chapter 34, McCall pressures Debbie to abort their second child but why is McCall glad the abortion did not happen?

4. How does McCall's relationship with his son, Monroe, compare to McCall's relationship with his biological father as described in Chapter 30?

5. What happens when McCall deals with the question of whether to abort his own child and an assignment in Chapter 31?

6. How is McCall's life after being released from St Brides like starting life over?

7. What happens with the divorce from Debbie in Chapter 41?

8. What does McCall say about drugs and the young black man in Chapter 40?

9. In Chapter 35, how is McCall fitting into the mainstream?

10. Why is McCall now afraid of the people with whom he was once so comfortable?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Stanley's visit and the resulting scenes and events in McCall's life facilitate McCall's decision to leave behind drug use from this point forward? How does this turning point reflect other changes that occurred in McCall's life during this time as well (family, career)?

Essay Topic 2

In the end of the book, McCall observes, with fear, the younger men on the block at his old hang out, the 7-Eleven. As a young black man growing up in urban America, McCall's every experience has been different or at the very least tainted by racism or misguided rites of passage. His fear of another man's rage has him easing back into his car and leaving the block. Using his story as your guide, explain how McCall's thoughts during this instance would be perceived as a betrayal by some (whom) but as maturity, growth by others (whom).

Essay Topic 3

In Part III of the book, McCall describes his relationship with Yvette, her challenges with being inferior and the Muslim principle that women hold an inferior position in the home. Looking at McCall's upbringing, his relationship with his mother and his mother's role in McCall's home, how do the two outlooks, situations, etc. clash? Why does McCall have problems with this Muslim principle and how much of this is due to his upbringing and his mother's role in the home?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 877 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample